COUNCILLORS in Liverpool have ruled out the city being governed by an elected mayor.

A Ken Livingstone-style mayoralty in Liverpool was rejected after a public consultation exercise backed the existing leader and cabinet style of local authority.

The city council will now hold a special meeting later this month to draw up a new constitution that will be forwarded to the government for approval.

Only 1% of city households responded to a questionnaire in which people were asked to choose whether they wanted a leader/cabinet or a directly-elected mayor.

When the council asked people across the city to comment on a bin service, there was a 30% response, councillors were told.

Executive member Cllr Richard Kemp said that if the government tries to force a referendum on Liverpool, the council will seek a judicial review unless all other authorities are ordered to organise referendums.

Cllr Kemp said: "As far as we are concerned we have done what the government has asked us to do and consulted our people.

"The response is clear and the matter should end here.

"Of course it will be open to other people to take the relevant measures for a referendum, but that will entail a petition signed by 5% of the electorate."

"This flight of fancy for an elected mayor is dead."

Council chief executive David Henshaw said he was satisfied that the authority had carried out consultations in accordance with the guidelines of the secretary of state.

He said: "There is no clear view from the people of Liverpool. If an elected mayor is dead, so is a leader/cabinet system. The only proper way forward is for a referendum to let the people of our city decide."

Former Lord Mayor Cllr Eddie Clein said Labour only wanted an elected mayor because "that is the only way they will have of running this council."